UEFA coefficient update: Chelsea and Fulham handed boost, and why Tottenham will be denied revenge

Chelsea and Fulham are both battling for European qualification going into the final stages of the season, with the Blues hoping for Champions League football and the Cottagers likely battling for a Conference League spot, though with an outside chance of getting Europa League.

As things stand, faltering Chelsea are sixth, but they are only one point behind Manchester City in fifth, three points behind Nottingham Forest in fourth and five behind Newcastle United in third. As for Fulham, they are currently ninth, goal difference behind AFC Bournemouth in eighth and six points behind both Aston Villa and Chelsea, in seventh and sixth respectively.

UEFA Coefficient update

The good news for both clubs is that England are now head and shoulders above the rest at the UEFA coefficient rankings, guaranteed to finish inside the top two after the completion of the quarter-finals in all three competitions. With four out of seven teams still in European competition, England currently has 26.8 points, comfortably above Spain, which has 23.25.

Italy are third with 21.18. Though, Spain are effectively guaranteed second spot. They will be quietly confident of Barcelona reaching the Champions League final over Inter, while Athletic Club will surely be favourites to win the Europa League, facing Manchester United in the semi-finals, and with the final taking place at their home stadium, San Mames. Real Betis actually face Italian club Fiorentina in the Conference League semi-finals.

Why are UEFA coefficient rankings so important?

The coefficient rankings became important at the start of last season, when UEFA announced that the top two nations would be given an extra Champions League spot as part of the expanded competition. England missed out last season, but it’s looking very good this time around.

If England does finish in the top two, it would mean the top five could enter into next season’s Champions League, while sixth and seventh would be Europa League spots and eighth would be Conference League spots. It’s worth noting that either Manchester United or Tottenham winning the Europa League would not impact the extra Champions League spot.

Tottenham were once denied Champions League qualification despite finishing fourth because Chelsea won their first-ever Champions League title in the same year, taking their spot. But while there used to be a limit for five Champions League teams per country, the rule was scrapped last season as part of the Champions League expansion. That means a top-tier country could, in theory, get up to seven teams in the Champions League if the top five qualified and teams from outside the top five somehow won the Champions League and Europa League in the same year.

Chelsea’s remaining fixtures

Chelsea have a tough run of fixtures to finish the season, knowing they will have to earn a top spot. Their fixtures are as follows:

Fulham (A), Everton (H), Liverpool (H), Newcastle United (A), Man Utd (H), Nottingham Forest (A).

Fulham’s remaining fixtures

Fulham also have a tough run-in, facing three of the big boys and two hard-to-beat sides in Everton and Brentford.

Chelsea (H), Southampton (A), Aston Villa (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A), Man City (H)

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